While pharmaceuticals are a well-established approach to managing mood and mental health, they come with significant drawbacks. These include ongoing costs, difficulty in discontinuing use, and a range of potential side effects. Furthermore, medications don’t work equally well for everyone—and in some cases, they may not work at all.
However, a promising alternative is emerging
Wearable neurotechnology and therapeutic medical devices that deliver brain stimulation externally present a promising alternative. In particular, these innovations have the potential to treat various chronic health conditions, including depression, particularly in cases where traditional drug therapies prove ineffective.
One example of this emerging technology is a wearable device designed by the company Flow to treat depression using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Specifically, this wearable device delivers a gentle, low-current stimulation to the brain using conductive pads positioned on the forehead, providing a non-invasive alternative to traditional treatments.
Flow’s Recommended Treatment Plan for Depression Management
The company recommends starting with daily treatments for several weeks, then transitioning to a few sessions per week as symptoms improve. According to their website, users who find the device beneficial within the first 10 weeks are encouraged to continue using it for at least another 6 to 12 months—even if they have achieved symptom-free status—to help maintain long-term well-being.
Targeted Brain Stimulation: A Drug-Free Alternative
The idea behind the noninvasive neurotech is that stimulating the brain’s activity in a targeted way could influence how a person feels by changing the electric signals that brain cells use to communicate. In this way, the device aims to influence mood and mental health.
This approach offers a promising alternative for individuals who don’t respond effectively to traditional drug treatments, potentially opening new pathways to mental health care.
